Regulation of mesenchymal extracellular matrix protein synthesis by transforming growth factor-beta and glucocorticoids in tumor stroma.

We have here studied the composition and regulation of stromal extracellular matrix components in an experimental tumor model. Nude mice were inoculated with WCCS-1 cells, a human Wilms' tumor cell line. In the formed tumors the stroma was found to contain mesenchymal extracellular matrix proteins such as tenascin-C, fibulins-1 and 2 and fibronectin, but no nidogen. Nidogen was confined to basement membranes of tumor blood vessels. Since glucocorticoids have been shown to downregulate tenascin-C expression in vitro, we tested whether dexamethasone can influence biosynthesis of extracellular matrix components during tumor formation in vivo. A downregulation of tenascin-C mRNA and an upregulation of fibronectin mRNA expression by dexamethasone was noted. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 mRNA levels were unaffected by the dexamethasone treatment. Glucocorticoids can thus downregulate tenascin-C synthesis although local stimulatory growth factors are present. The competition between a negative and a positive extrinsic factor on synthesis of stromal extracellular matrix components was studied in a fibroblast/preadipocyte cell line. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 stimulated tenascin-C synthesis but did not affect fibronectin or fibulin-2 synthesis. Dexamethasone at high concentrations could completely suppress the effect of transforming growth factor-beta 1 on tenascin-C mRNA expression. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 could in turn overcome the downregulation of tenascin-C mRNA expression caused by a lower concentration of dexamethasone. We therefore suggest that the limited expression of tenascin-C in part is due to a continuous suppression by physiological levels of glucocorticoids, which can be overcome by local stimulatory growth factors when present in sufficient amounts.